A Disturbing, Long-Time Trend in Editorial Photography

I haven’t spent much time doing editorial photography. With that disclaimer, I still believe I have enough knowledge about the subject to have formed a reasonable opinion about its trends. And its the trends I find somewhat disturbing.

When looking at the portfolios of editorial photographers, particularly emerging editorial photographers, everything looks pretty much the same. Its not a new problem. This has been going on for decades. Its natural for photographers to emulate what they see in successful print. But this goes beyond that. This borders on imitation: not downright copying mind you, but imitation, which although nuanced, isn’t exactly the same thing.

Even more disturbing is the fact that much of this work is contrived. Pictures are out of focus because thats cool. Pictures have polaroid-style edges because thats cool. Pictures are strongly backlit and in fact blowout because “that’s cool.” When pressed, most of the photographers doing this work that all looks the same cannot articulate with any specificity WHY they are doing what they are doing. Whether they want to admit it or not I think I know why. Theyve seen it somewhere else so they are emulating it – either consciously or subconsiously.

Yet – its all done in the name of being new. Quite a contradiction isn’t it?

Yes the out of focus pictures are a response to too many IN-FOCUS pictures, so they think they are being cool by being new. If youre a regular reader here you know whats coming next.

Its much more important to be YOU than to be NEW! The logic of this should be clear. If you are imitating other peoples style because its new and different from traditional photography, then you really aren’t doing anything new at all. Its much more valuable and important to put your own, true stamp on it. Shoot from the heart. Don’t be one of those people that has an over-powered, strongly back-lit engagement photo in your portfolio because every other photographer has decided that its cool to wash out the detail in the picture. Instead, pay attention to story-telling and craft and know what the rules are before you break them.

Its perfectly fine to try new things. In fact, I think its great. I advocate for that approach. But do so based on your interpretation and from a place that is truly you – that is authentic – that is born out of your own desire to communicate – not your desire to imitate.

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